A/N: Hello everyone, I am back with chapter twenty-one of "Sounds of Silence". This chapter will pick up where the last left off.
Disclaimer: I don't own Strike Witches
The sun had only risen recently in the skies over Orussia. Lying in her bed, Shirley was jarred awake by the the morning sunlight. Shirley's eyes opened up and and he rubbed the sleep from them. Shirley felt a heavy weight on her chest and looked down to find Lucchini resting on her buxom chest.
"Good morning sleepy head." said Shirley, gently shaking the Romagna girl awake.
"I'm up." yawned Lucchini.
"How long have you been here?" asked Shirley.
"I've slept with you all night." answered Lucchini.
"That's so sweet." replied Shirley, groaning in pain.
"Shirley!" exclaimed Lucchini.
"I'm okay." said Shirley, holding her back.
"No you aren't." said Lucchini teary-eyed.
"This is rough. I broke my back and I'll never fly or race again." stated Shirley.
"Exactly. You're not the same." said Lucchini.
"That's were you're wrong. I'm still the same Shirley you've always known even if my back is broken." explained Shirley.
"You promise?" asked Lucchini.
"I promise." answered Shirley.
"Shirley." said Lucchini, hugging the redhead.
"I thought I lost you went all Barkhorn and I was afraid that I'd lost you again yesterday." explained Lucchini.
"Look Francesca, I promise that you'll never lose me." said Shirley.
"Thank you!" cried Lucchini.
"There there." said Shirley, stroking Francesca's hair.
"I hope that I'm not interrupting." said Barkhorn, opening the door.
"Major Barkhorn." said the other two.
"I need to talk with Captain Yeager." stated Barkhorn.
"Francesca, please leave. I'll see you later." said Shirley.
"Okay." replied Lucchini.
Lucchini got up and left closing the door behind her. Once she did, Barkhorn sat down in a nearby chair.
"How are you doing Shirley?" asked Barkhorn.
"I'm okay but, I can't led the outfit anymore." answered Shirley.
"Just forget that. I'm just glad you're okay." replied Barkhorn.
"Man, I'm sure nobody ever would have thought we'd be so friendly." said Shirley.
"Despite our differences we are comrades." noted Barkhorn.
"A sigh of solidarity." said Shirley.
"You could call it that." said Barkhorn.
"I'm not so bad considering..." began Shirley her voice trailing off.
"That I lost my arm." finished Barkhorn.
"I didn't want to be rude." said Shirley.
"It's fine. All I can do now is overcome disability." said Barkhorn.
"You still have to explain it to Chris." noted Shirley.
"I'm not sure how I'll do it. I know she'll be really freaked out by it and I'm afraid she'll be afraid of me. I almost lost her once and I don't want to lose Chris again." sighed Barkhorn.
"I'm sure she'll understand." said Shirley.
"God, I hope so." said Barkhorn.
"Chris is your little sister. She'll love you no matter what. She might be...upset at first by this but, just sit her down and explain things to Chris. I know she'll understand and will never stop loving you." explained Shirley.
"Thanks." said Barkhorn.
"It's nothing." replied Shirley.
"You've got the intelligence of a Karlslander." joked Barkhorn.
"While Yeager is an Anglicized form of the Karlsland word Jager." noted Shirley.
"That explains it." said Barkhorn.
"So, who's going to lead the outfit in combat?" asked Shirley.
"I'm going to put Hartmann in command." answered Barkhorn.
"She'll be a perfect fit." stated Shirley.
"Yeah." said Barkhorn, adverting her head.
"Hey, what's up?" asked Shirley.
"I was really worried about Erica." answered Barkhorn.
"She is the Blonde Knight of Karlsland." noted Shirley.
"True. I know she's a great witch and can handler herself but, when she was nearly hit, I wanted to enter the battle." confessed Barkhorn.
"I'm glad you didn't." said Shirley.
"You should thank Rall. She's the one who stopped me." replied Barkhorn.
"No offense but, you would have been more a hindered." laughed Shirley.
"I know." said Barkhorn.
"Just relax Barkhorn. Hartmann will be fine. She's a great witch and we have a great medical team." replied Shirley.
"Why are you talking about our medical staff?" asked Barkhorn nervously.
"God forbid, something goes wrong then she'll be in good hands." answered Shirley.
"That's true." sighed Barkhorn in relief.
"Besides, we do have Yoshika too." stated Shirley.
"Yes. Miyafuji is an amazing witch." said Barkhorn.
"Barkhorn, you do seem really concerned about Hartmann." said Shirley.
"Of course. She's a comrade of mine." said Barkhorn.
"I'm just saying that out of all the witches she's the one who talked about." explained Shirley.
"I've know her since 1940." said Barkhorn, turning her head.
"I think you love her." said Shirley.
"That's...absurd." sputtered Barkhorn blushing.
"Say what you want but, I can see it. There's nothing wrong with being a lesbian." said Shirley.
"I need to go." said Barkhorn standing up.
"Just think about it. You'll feel better when you've accepted your sexual orientation." said Shirley.
"Okay." agreed Barkhorn.
Meanwhile, in another part of the castle Yoshika Miyafuji and Lynette Bishop were busy cooking. They were making breakfast for their fellow witches.
"Um Yoshika, are you sure this is right?" asked Lynne.
"Not really. I've never cooked Liberion food before." answered Yoshika.
"It doesn't seem to hard: bacon, eggs, toast and juice." noted Lynne.
"I hope I didn't undercook the stake." said Yoshika.
"I'm sure you did fine." replied Lynne, kissing Yoshika on the cheek.
"What was that for?" asked Yoshika.
"Making breakfast for Shirley was a kind gesture." answered Lynne.
"Thanks Lynne." replied Yoshika.
"It really seems like fate has it in for use." mused Lynne.
"Don't say that." said Yoshika uncomfortably.
"It does seems so." said Lynne.
"We have had a lot of unfortunate luck." admitted Yoshika.
"If I lost you..." began Lynne.
"That's won't happen." interrupted Yoshika.
"Hey guys!" called Hartmann bouncing into the kitchen.
"Oh hello Lieutenant." said Yoshika.
"We'll talk later." whispered Lynne.
"Um, that food smells delicious." said Hartmann.
"It's for Shirley. Yoshika decided to cook her a Liberion breakfast because she got hurt." explained Lynne.
"Oh. That's so nice Yoshika." said Hartmann.
"It's really nothing." said Yoshika.
"I'm surprised you actually got this much." said Hartmann.
"It wasn't easy but, once I explained the situation members of the Orussian Imperial Army helped out." explained Yoshika.
"Well, I still think it's sweet." said Hartmann, yawning.
"You aren't usually up this early. You must be exhausted." said Lynne.
"You can say that again." replied Hartmann, rubbing her eyes.
"Are you worried about Barkhorn?" asked Yoshika.
"Of course I am." answered Hartmann.
"She does seem to be doing better." said Lynne, trying to put a positive spin on the situation.
"Yeah. That is true." admitted Hartmann.
"See. Everything will be okay." said Yoshika.
"Oh Yoshiak, you're so naive." said Hartmann shaking her head.
"What do you mean?" asked Yoshika.
"You're a real optimist Miyafuji. You always see the best in everything think things will be okay. Unfortunately, the world isn't always like that. The world can be a cruel and terrible place. Look at what happened to us: Sakamoto and Perrine where killed in action, Barkhorn and Shirley were both severely injured in combat and of course Minna..." explained Hartmann, unable to finish.
"That's really dark." said Yoshika.
"It's the truth." replied Hartmann solemnly.
"Um Yoshika, we need to finish Shirley's breakfast." said Lynne, hoping to change the conversation.
"Oh yeah." realized Yoshika, turning around.
"She's still trying to hold onto her innocence. In away, that's admirable." thought Hartmann to herself.
"Oh no!" cried out Yoshika.
"What's wrong?" asked Lynne.
"I don't know how Shirley likes her bacon or eggs." answered Yoshika.
"Well, from what I've seen she like crispy bacon and scrambled eggs." answered Hartmann.
"Oh good. That's how I made it." sighed Yoshika.
"Yoshika, we haven't made anyone else breakfast yet." said Lynne in realization.
"I'll take to Shirley so you can start on this." said Hartmann.
"That's so much Erica. You're a lifesaver." replied Yoshika.
"Let's get started." added Lynne.
"Just have breakfast ready when I get back." said Hartmann.
"Okay." said Yoshika and Lynne in unison.
Hartmann took the food and left the kitchen. As she walked toward Shirley's room, she continued thinking about Yoshika. Hartmann was so distracted that she almost walked right by Shirley's room. Hartmann used her foot to knock on the door.
"Who is it?" asked Shirley.
"Hartmann. I have your breakfast." answered Hartmann.
"I'll get the door." replied Shirley.
"No, let me." said Hartmann, not wanting Shirley to strain her back.
Hartmann managed to open the door while juggling the food. Once used her foot to shut the door behind her and walked over to Shirley.
"Damn. That smells good." said Shirley.
"Miyafuji and Lynne made it. I'm just delivering it." noted Hartmann.
"Give them my compliments. This is amazing." said Shirley, eating the food.
"Glad to see you're feeling better." said Hartmann, sitting on the side of the bed.
"Just like I told Francesca, I'm still the same Shirley." said Shirley.
"I didn't know she was here." said Hartmann.
"I awoke to her sleeping on my chest." answered Shirley.
"That doesn't surprise me." laughed Hartmann.
"Says the girls that stole her panties." replied Shirley.
"That was almost two years ago." said Hartmann.
"Barkhorn was here earlier." noted Shirley.
"Why was she here?" asked Hartmann.
"To talk. It seems she wants you to take over leading the squadron now that I've been incapacitated." answered Shirley.
"No problem." replied Hartmann.
"We also talked about Chris." noted Shirley.
"I'm not surprised that came up." said Hartmann.
"She was concerned about Chris would react and I reassured that things would be okay." explained Shirley.
"That makes sense. Chris is the most important person in her life." shrugged Hartmann.
"True but..." began Shirley, her voice trailing off.
"What?" asked Hartmann.
"You came up in conversation." answered Shirley.
"Oh really." said Hartmann interested.
"She seemed to talk more about you than anyone else. In fact, you were the only member she talked about by name." said Shirley.
"That isn't surprising." said Hartmann.
"I think she loves you." stated Shirley.
"That's ridiculous." said Hartmann.
"She was sputtering and blushing." said Shirley.
"Oh..." said Hartmann, adverting her eyes.
"You two clearly have romantic feelings for each other. I know everyone else here will accept you two." said Shirley.
"I need to go." said Hartmann jumping up.
"Erica, don't deny your feelings. You'll just end up being miserable." said Shirley.
"Sure." said Hartmann, deep in thought.
Kiel Mutiny: The Kiel Mutiny was a naval mutiny in the port city of Kiel, Karlsland. Members of the Karlsland Imperial Navy staged a mutiny on November 11, 1918 in opposition to being sent to battle the Neuroi. It spread across the country with the largest being in the Kingdom of Bavaria. By 1919, the revolts were ended.
A/N: There is chapter twenty-one done and I hope you enjoyed. Next time, Hartmann and Barkhorn try to deal with their feelings. Please review.